Week 2 and it’s already a must win. Sinisa Mihajlovic claimed during the pre-season that Milan wants to win every game, this is now even more important as the 2015-2016 home opener at Fiorentina soon turned into a debacle. A card happy referee, poor organization and inexperience against a good pressing opposition made for a near disastrous loss.

Empoli provide a lesser opponent. The Tuscan team features ex-Milan player Riccardo Saponara and the aging Massimo Maccarone in attack. A win is crucial following a strange week in the transfer market that featured a surprise return in Mario Balotelli. It is also important to enter the derby, next match day, with three points.

There have been whispers that Mihajlovic is ready to change his preferred 4-3-1-2 in favour of a 4-3-3 but it seems more likely that the formation will remain the same with Cristian Zapata filling for the suspended Rodrigo Ely as he did when the latter got his second yellow last week. Other possible changes from week 1 – according to Gazzetta – are Suso and Nocerino replacing Honda and Bonaventura in the starting lineup. Balotelli, the other newcomer Juraj Kucka and Zaccardo are in the squad but Matri, Mexes and Jose Mauri are not even on the bench.